Man who started SA fire found not guilty

A bushwalker who started a fire to bring help when he became trapped in blackberry vines in the Adelaide Hills has been found not guilty of causing a bushfire.

In the South Australian District Court on Friday, Judge Peter Brebner said while Charles John Adam was not mentally incompetent at the time, as argued by the defence, the crown had not proved the case against him beyond reasonable doubt.

Adam had to be rescued by the Country Fire Service in March 2009 after becoming trapped in the blackberry vines and lighting what he said was a signal fire.

His trial was told that instead of using his mobile phone to get help, he had reverted to his Boy Scout training from his early years in the UK and had decided to start a signal fire with a cigarette lighter.

The blaze destroyed five hectares of a reserve at Bridgewater as more than 200 firefighters battled it over three days.

Judge Brebner said he did not accept Adam's evidence that he was trying to light a signal fire, prompted by his Boy Scout training.

"But my non-acceptance of his evidence does not necessarily mean that the contrary has been proved beyond reasonable doubt," he said.